Urban residents and lifestyle block owners would pay a fairer share of controlling plant and animal pests in the Region under a new targeted rate proposed in Environment Waikato’s Long-Term Council Community Plan.

A fairer rating system, and new proposed targeted rates for heritage protection, protecting Lake Taupo, improving river management in the Coromandel and pest management are included in Environment Waikato’s, about to open for submissions.

Environment Waikato’s Regulatory Committee has recommended prosecuting Hamilton City Council and Perry Environmental over alleged breaches of resource consents at the Horotiu Landfill, subject to legal advice.

The hearing of consent applications for Contact Energy’s Wairakei geothermal field is to be adjourned at the end of March to give Taupo District Council time to assess information about materials drilled in one of Taupo’s subsidence areas.